5 ‘different’ social activities

Saturday, 13 September 2014 00:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Exciting options to indulge in with friends

By Iresha Umagiliya A few years ago, meeting up with friends would mean going out club hopping, heading out to a restaurant for dinner, or hosting someone for dinner at your place. We Lankans hardly had any real choice or variety when it came to doing something new and exciting for the first time with friends. As we all know, experiencing something for the first time is a thrilling experience. But believe me, it’s almost ten times more fun when you share the experience with close friends!

Pub crawl “Always remember that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me” – Unknown Originating in the 1900s, a pub crawl consists of a group of people travelling to multiple bars/pubs and consuming a liquor of their choice. This concept was born in Colombo when a famous beer company started promoting their brand by hosting up to 40 beer lovers to an unforgettable beer drinking experience. The mode of transportation is open-top double decker bus which is commonly used for Colombo City tours from around late last year, and the host of the crawl is the ever so popular Dominic Kellar who you may recognise from the famous stage play ‘Pusswedilla’. Together with his co-host, Amrik Wilson, Dominic keeps the crowd going from start to finish and ensures that there is never a dull moment during the entire duration of the tour.

The bus can comfortably accommodate 40 people on the top deck and it’s rather cool to travel around a bit “tipsy” with your fellow crawlers while the cool evening breeze runs through your hair! Amrik plays some groovy tunes to accompany as well. Ideally taking place on every last Saturday of the month, the crawl starts between 6:30 and 7 at one of the venues and tickets are sold for Rs. 2,500 a pop which covers unlimited beer at each venue travelled to and snacks which include chicken, sausages, and various types of sandwiches, pizza and French fries. If you choose to drink any beverages in addition to beer, you will have to settle the bill separately before you hop back onto the bus to head off to the next location.

The food and drinks never run out, and more than compensates for dinner. The bus travels to five pubs/bars on each consecutive crawl which includes the following venues: Echelon Pub, Hilton Colombo, Manchester, In…on the Green, Union Bar and Grill at Hilton Residences, The Floor by O, R&R at Dutch Hospital, R&R at Racecourse, Q-baa, and The Loft Bar – Colombo Courtyard. Overall, this is a fantastic way to bond with your friends and also quite economical, considering your booze and dinner is paid for. Another plus is that you get to meet new people who you will most definitely get along with if you like this kind of activity. There is even a beer drinking competition at the last venue! The crawl is advertised via social media every month, and you will have to be quick to reserve your place since there are only 40 seats available. Quiz nights “The brain may die, but my compulsion for useless trivia lives on” – Molly Harper Quiz nights are nothing new in Colombo and have been going on for the past few years. It’s a great way to spend time with friends and unleash your competitive edge as a team. The best part is, you walk away with some knowledge and if you’re lucky, maybe even some valuable prizes! Quiz nights happen consistently every week through Monday to Wednesday and starts around 8 p.m. at the following locations. It is advisable to get there around 7:30 in order to comfortably be seated and settled before the quiz night begins. Echelon Pub, Hilton Colombo – Mondays: Echelon has a happy hour which offers you 50% off on selected beverages between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. What we usually do is get there around 7 p.m. and order enough drinks to last us the duration of the quiz.

Margarita Blue, Galadari – Tuesdays: Not one of my favorite venues for quiz night, since I would prefer a pub-like atmosphere as opposed to this ‘club’ like place, however, they have extended their happy hour to benefit the quiz crowd from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. as opposed to their normal happy hour which ends at 7 p.m. Therefore, it is advisable to get there early and order your drinks in advance, since the normal prices of alcohol are a bit expensive and so is the food. In…on the Green – Wednesdays: Another place I like because its atmosphere is cozy and similar to what I would think a small English pub feels like. Gets a bit crowded but you should be alright if you reserve a table for quiz night. This event is also hosted by Dominic Kellar and consists of five rounds/categories of 10 questions each.

The most common categories would be; current affairs, history, sports, entertainment and music. He also throws in a few different and exciting rounds such as movies, countries, etc., for which he will not ask a question, rather show you a picture on the screen and ask you to identify a person or a location. Part of the fun is getting together with your friends prior to the quiz night and going through various topics to prepare! Warning: you are not allowed to use your smart phones to Google the answers!

Barefoot Garden Cafe Quiz – Wednesdays: Another very popular quiz is the Barefoot Garden Cafe Quiz, also known as the Pub Quiz. Hosted by the witty Jehan Mendis, the quiz starts at 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday, and consists of five rounds which include news, sports, entertainment, general knowledge, etc. Jehan changes things up a bit and adds a theme to some quiz nights, depending on what time of the year it is, with Halloween, wedding season, and Christmas themes being some of the ones he has done in the past. The Barefoot Garden Cafe serves beer and wine, and stays open until the quiz ends, which is typically around 11 p.m. The venue is quite nice, since it is outdoors and has a slight home-like feeling to the atmosphere. Once you become a regular, you will get to know the crowd and it will feel like you are a part of one big quiz night family. Prizes typically include Barefoot vouchers and sometimes a mix of other gifts which are sponsored. Movie nights “Everything makes me nervous – except making films” – Elizabeth Taylor, Actress If you and your friends are movie enthusiasts, I recommend two places to have a unique movie experience. Classic film night at Cloud Café: Organised by Trekurious, this event happens once a month at the rooftop of Colombo Courtyard. A giant screen is put up and the whole experience lasts for about three hours. This would be an ideal experience to take your parents or family as well, since they might not be able to experience classics on the big screen since no theatre in the country currently shows any classics. Each person will get a glass of wine, popcorn and a light meal to indulge in through the movie. Of course, you are more than welcome to order more food and drinks from their menu at an additional cost. This experience is a steal at Rs. 1,000 per person, and can be booked online at the Trekurious website. Empire Gold Cineplex @ Arcade, Independence Square: This new, state-of-the-art cinema sports 20 reclining seats with cup holders and food trays. All the latest movies are shown in this theatre and the tickets are priced at Rs. 900 for normal movies and Rs. 1,000 for 3D movies. Due to the limited seat count, tickets are not sold online, and you would need to visit the theatre in order to book your seats. I know, this could be a bit inconvenient. However, it is fully worth to experience the place at least once. Since it’s a small, private theatre, it’s ideal to take your close friends or family and enjoy a new movie in ultimate comfort. Warning though, once you get used to the comfort of this theatre, the normal theatres in and around Colombo will not be the same again.

High tea “A cup of tea shared with a friend, is happiness tasted and time well spent” – Unknown Many of the five star hotels in Colombo serve high tea on a daily basis, consisting of finger foods such as sandwiches, pastries, breads, desserts usually accompanied by iced/hot coffee or tea. You might want to try it out with your friends and indulge in a relaxed afternoon of chit chat and a bite to eat. Most often than not, we end up skipping dinner after indulging in so much food! The following places serve Colombo’s best selection of high tea: The Governor’s High Tea, Mount Lavinia Hotel: 3-6 p.m. daily, Rs 1,100.00 nett Hilton Colombo Elegant High Tea 3-6 p.m. daily, Rs. 1,966 nett (for two) Hilton Colombo Bubbly High Tea: 3-6 p.m. daily, Rs. 10,468 nett (for two), inclusive of a bottle of champagne Cinnamon Grand, Colombo: 3-5:30 p.m., only on weekends , Rs. 1,270 nett Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo: 3-6 p.m. daily, Rs. 1,695 nett The Kingsbury, Colombo: 3-6 p.m. daily, Rs. 1,700 nett Explore the city via bicycle and learn a new skill “In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration” – Ansel Adams, Photographer There are many undiscovered places in and around Colombo. Take a leisurely bike ride in the late afternoon with your friends and discover some of the hidden gems most don’t know about. There are many new walking/cycling tours which have started up in the recent past, for which a guide will give you a detailed look at the city and the history behind most of the ancient structures. However, it is optional to do it on your own if you are a local. You are most likely to find many interesting places in Colombo Fort itself. You could indulge in a few activities such as have a snack at Galle Face Green, fly a kite, buy some goodies from the Pettah market, or refresh your memory on what artifacts are in the National Museum. Either way, it’s a fun and interactive way to learn new things with friends. A map, water bottle and camera are musts! While you’re at it, why not try your hand in archery and see who has the best aim in your gang? The Colombo Archery School has been in operation since August 2007 and is conveniently located in the heart of Colombo. They have five different levels of teaching programs consisting of a Beginner’s Program, Intermediate Program, Advanced Intermediate Program, Corporate/Associations Program and an Elite Archers Program. You can visit their website at http://www.archery.lk for detailed information on what programs you may be interested in. All instructors are fully qualified and this experience is 100% safe. The school hosts archery championships as well for their students to take part in. Food for thought: Happiness is doubled in value when shared with someone you love. I hope you enjoy these indulgences as much as we have! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and comments! Cheers! Note: Please note that details are accurate as of 25 August 2014. Prices may be subject to change after this date. (Trekurious together with DailyFT explores Sri Lanka for the curious traveller. Trekurious works with talented individuals and great brands to create amazing experiential tours, activities, and events in Sri Lanka. You can find out more at www.Trekurious.com.)